Category: Happenings | Page 2

Quote: Some people (irrespective of their gender and sexuality) are never likely to shed their biases against queer or other marginalized groups; whereas there are others, however small in number, who need to be applauded for their willingness to reach out beyond boundaries (ironically like the coronavirus itself). We might as well give a quiet, heartfelt applause for the second lot!

Coronavirus outreach news from ‘Varta’

By Pawan Dhall

An audio roundup of how queer individuals, support groups and their allies are helping people face survival challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic in India

This photograph shows a scene from the disability rights interaction organized by the CPI(M) at Maha Bodhi Society Hall in Central Kolkata on May 5, 2019. The objective was to convey what the CPI(M) manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls had to say about the concerns of persons with disabilities. To the right of the photograph is a podium where a number of speakers are either standing or seated behind a table. These include Professor Ishita Mukhopadhyay (standing and furthest away), faculty at the University of Calcutta; Anirban Mukherjee, Executive Committee member of the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled and CPI(M) member; Kaninika Bose Ghosh, Kolkata Uttar Lok Sabha election candidate; and Professor Nandini Mukherjee, Kolkata Dakshin Lok Sabha election candidate (closest to the camera). To the left, next to a few steps leading up to the podium, is Sumanta Ghosh, a member of a disability rights network in Kolkata. He is making a point during the interaction using sign language, as a few members in the audience seated behind him look on. A sign language interpreter can be seen in the forefront with her back to the camera. In the background, tall pillars of the high-ceilinged Maha Bodhi Society Hall seem to make a mark against creamy white walls. Photo credit: Rith Das

Happenings, VCR Diary May '19

CPI(M)’s disability outreach through print, sound, sign language sets precedent

By Rith Das

Rith Das reports (with inputs from Pawan Dhall) on CPI(M)’s recent disability rights meeting

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph shows Rohit Khumanthem from Yaishkul Manipur Legislative Assembly constituency in Imphal West district, who was among the few trans women in Manipur who could vote in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in their desired gender identity. In the photograph Rohit Khumanthem is standing next to a two wheeler out on a narrow street in a residential locality of Imphal city. Dressed neatly with dark glasses to ward off the bright sunlight, Rohit Khumanthem is smiling and proudly displaying her voter slip issued by the Manipur State Election Commission. The street is quite empty barring a few parked cars and a road-roller in the background (the road seems freshly laid out, with repair work continuing in the distance). The right side of the street is lined with houses, while the left side mostly has trees. Right behind Rohit Khumanthem is a closed gate made of tin and wood, a brick wall and a pile of stone chips. A bright blue sky above seems to match the confidence on Rohit Khumanthem’s face. The accompanying text says: “An area of concern was the mismatch of gender identity on the voter identity card and on other identity documents like Aadhaar. Many trans women in Manipur have had their gender identity changed to transgender on their Aadhaar card, but their voter identity card still mentions their gender identity as male. When this issue was pointed out to the Election Commission officials during the SVEEP campaign, they assured that the voter identity cards would be updated. But this eventually did not happen.” Photo credit: Bonita Pebam

Happenings, VCR Diary May '19

Trans participation in Manipur for Lok Sabha polls – some hits, many misses

By Bonita Pebam

Trans inclusion in the election process in Manipur needs far more thought, says Bonita Pebam

This illustration is a combination of a graphic and an extract from the article. The left half of the illustration panel shows the cover page of the transgender+ workplace inclusion guidelines developed by Orinam and Diversity Dialogues ‘Supporting Gender Affirmation: Towards Transgender+ Inclusive Workplaces in India’. With a simple but striking design, the cover page carries the guidelines title in bold, all-capitals text in the centre but with the text aligned to the left. The background of the text is split into two horizontal halves – the upper half blue in colour and the lower pink. There is a white bar on top of the blue half, which carries the logos of Diversity Dialogues (left side of the page) and Orinam (right side of the page). The extracted text, in the right half of the illustration panel, says: “The guidelines were dedicated to the memory of Anannya Krishnan, a trans woman who was part of the Orinam collective. Despite a promising career as a pharmacologist in the drug safety vertical of a Chennai business, she faced numerous struggles to find a place to live and have her family acknowledge her gender identity. She committed suicide on December 30, 2017.” Cover page design credit: Diversity Dialogues and Orinam.

Happenings, Insight Dec '18

Diversity Dialogues, Orinam raise bar for trans inclusion in workplaces

By Brindaalakshmi K.

Brindaalakshmi K. on the recent launch of a trans inclusion guide for Indian workplaces

This main photograph is a close-up shot of two small paper banners held up by transgender activists at a media conference organized at the Kolkata Press Club on December 20, 2018 to protest against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018. The banners say “Withdraw Transgender Bill 2018” and “Stop the Trans Bill”. The hands and fingers of the persons holding up the banners can also be seen, some decorated with henna and nail polish and others ornamented with rings and bangles. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Happenings Dec '18

Cruel déjà vu on transgender rights legislation

By Pawan Dhall

Anger erupts against Bill on transgender rights passed by Lok Sabha at Kolkata media conference

This photograph shows a scene from the starting point of the first ‘Shillong Pride Walk’ organized on September 14, 2018. The walk started at Fire Brigade Point. In the photograph, nine walk participants can be seen standing in a row, cheering and holding a large and flowing rainbow pride flag in front of them. The participants seem to be a mix of different genders. Some of them have smaller rainbow pride paper flags in their hands, while some are sporting colourful headgear. Among the participants are the author Shivalal Gautam at the extreme right end and advocate and Shamakami NGO founder Rebina Subba third from right. The participants seem to be standing in an open area and behind them can be seen some buildings, trees, a partition created by asbestos sheets and a tent like structure behind the partition. The sky above is grey and somewhat overcast. Photo courtesy: ‘Shillong Pride Walk’ organizers

Happenings Oct '18

Rainbow pride debut wins hearts in Shillong, trumps rain and public hostility

By Rudrani Rajkumari

Shillong witnessed its first pride walk just a week after the Section 377 verdict. Shivalal Gautam reports

This is a daytime photograph that shows a group of six queer activists in Imphal celebrating the Supreme Court’s verdict on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code on September 6, 2018. They are all on the road outside the Manipur Press Club in Imphal. Some of them are holding a banner that says “6th September 2018: A new day for a new life with a new hope, Manipur Press Club, Imphal”. In two different places on the banner, the text “Sec 377” is shown crossed out symbolizing the reading down of the law. The background of the banner shows the rainbow colours in the form of gentle overlapping waves. Two of the activists are sitting or kneeling down to the left side of the banner and smiling at the camera. Photo credit: Randhoni Lairikyengbam

Happenings Sep '18

Queer communities celebrate Supreme Court verdict on Section 377

By Queer individuals and groups in India

The apex court takes a huge first step towards ensuring social justice for queer people in India

This visual is a collection of six photographs that show different scenes from the symposium ‘Queering Mental Health’ organized at Seva Kendra Calcutta Training Centre on August 4, 2018 as ‘Varta’ webzine’s fifth birthday event. The photographs are placed in a grid. Clockwise from top left: Varta literature on display at the symposium; panellists Sudha Jha and Kaushik Gupta; audience interaction during the symposium – a young woman asks a question as other participants look on; panellists Dr. Madhurima Ghosh, Shilpi Banerjee, Shampa Sengupta and Mohit Ranadip; panellists Dr. Chilka, Dr. L. Ramakrishnan, Rituparna Borah and Sayan Bhattacharya; and ‘Varta’ birthday cake – a heart shaped cake with red gleaming icing all over, a “Happy Birthday” plastic prop placed on the top surface, and Varta’s name and a smiley drawn out in yellow icing just below the prop. The photograph of the cake takes up maximum space in the grid, with other equal sized photographs placed above it and to its right. Photo credits: Jia Mata (first two and the last photograph) and Kaushik Gupta (remaining photographs).

Happenings, Insight Aug '18

Symposium on queering mental health

By Jia Mata

Jia Mata was at 'Varta’s' 5th birthday event focussed on queer perspectives on mental health

This main illustration is a collage of two photographs and an accompanying text box. The photographs show scenes from the Thabal Chongba event held for transgender women in Imphal on April 14, 2018. In each photograph, a number of individuals dressed in colourful and traditional Meitei attire can be seen holding hands in a long human chain and dancing merrily to the sound of music. The participants are a mix of many genders, though most of them are transgender women. The event venue is an open ground, lit up brightly with LED lamps attached to bamboo frames erected at the edges of the ground. In the background, a number of onlookers can be seen sitting on benches or standing around. Behind them are houses and shop fronts with shutters closed. The accompanying text is a quote from a participant at the event: “I’m happy with this event where we’re empowered to come out openly in public with our trans identities. I wish the organisers are able to repeat such events every year!” Photo credits: Bonita Pebam

Happenings, Manipur Diary May '18

Transgender assertion and joy through Thabal Chongba in Manipur

By Bonita Pebam

For transgender women in Manipur, Thabal Chongba, a popular folk dance associated with the Yaosang or Holi festival, provides a welcome respite from a stigmatized existence. Bonita Pebam reports on...

The photograph is a close-up shot of Oinam Hemba, the author of this article. He is speaking at a community event in Manipur. He is speaking into a stationary microphone. Behind him is a colourful curtain forming a back screen. The curtain has a pattern of illustrations of flowers and comic characters. To the left, the curtain is drawn apart a bit and an old wall clock and a wooden shelf can be seen behind it. The author’s photograph is accompanied by a quote from the article: “This was a clear case of misuse of the law – Dona and Tang were both adults, and how could Section 377 be applicable just because they were a lesbian-trans man couple? And this was happening in spite of the Honourable Supreme Court’s NALSA verdict on transgender rights! The question that keeps bothering me is when will the rights of queer people be truly respected in our society?” Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Happenings, Manipur Diary May '18

Wrong arm of the law!

By Oinam Hemba

Oinam Hemba reports on a recent ordeal with the police in Manipur when he was falsely accused of helping a trans man abduct his lesbian partner from her home. And...

The photograph shows a scene from a demonstration organized by disability rights groups from across India on Parliament Street, Delhi, March 6, 2018 morning to demand the right to travel by railways – in terms of both accessibility and affordability. The photograph captures just a small section of the people gathered at the demonstration. Around 25 people (a mix of men and women) can be seen seated on chairs or standing in a portion of the demonstration site, facing the camera. In the very first row are two women and a man, who is propping up a yellow flag of the Paschimbanga Rajya Pratibandhi Sammilani. To the right of the photograph, a banner can be seen put up on a high railing along the pavement. The banner has three lines saying: “For the Right to Travel by Railways – For Accessible, Affordable, Disabled-friendly Railways – National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled”. In the background can be seen a few traffic barricades, a traffic signal, and several shrubs and trees. Photo credit: Shampa Sengupta

Happenings Mar '18

Campaign for right to travel by railways

By Disability rights organizations in India

A campaign organized by disability rights groups for the ‘right to travel by railways’ should be an eye-opener for all train travellers who don’t realize who’s getting left behind or...

The photograph shows a protest under way against the central government’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, which has been severely criticized as discriminatory and regressive. The protest took place on Parliament Street in Delhi on December 17, 2017, where hundreds of transgender men and women, intersex and gender non-conforming people and their allies came together from across India. In the photograph, an activist can be seen speaking on a dais, with several other people standing close to her with posters that say “Liberation” and “Stop TG Bill 2016”. A few individuals are seated on the dais. Behind the dais there is a large banner titled ‘All India Transgender Aur Intersex Pratirodh’ in Hindi. It provides details of why the proposed legislation should be opposed. In the background, to the right side, a number of trees are visible with the morning sunlight filtering through. Photo credit: Ajita Banerjie

Happenings Dec '17

In rage, and in hope, we fight

By Ajita Banerjie

Delhi witnesses a collective voice of dissent against the central government’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016. Ajita Banerjie reports

This is a graphic designed for the ongoing campaign against the Transgender Person (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016. The text says “Stop the Transgender Bill” in a bold typeface and large point size. To the left of the text is a layered illustration that shows a clenched fist in the background. An open palm is placed on the fist, with many more hands and forearms visible inside the open palm – all symbolizing a demand for protection and promotion of transgender and intersex rights. The dominant colour theme in the graphic is red, black and white. The numerous hands and forearms are in multiple colours juxtaposed on the black colour of the open palm. The clenched fist is in orange tinged red, while the text is in mainly white on a background of red and black. Artwork credit: Siddhartha Sankar

Happenings Dec '17

‘Transgender Day of Rage’ to mark Kolkata pride

By Kolkata Rainbow Pride Festival, Siddhartha Sankar

The 16th edition of the ‘Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ is planned for December 10, 2017. The walk will be preceded by a protest against the discriminatory Transgender Person (Protection of...

This graphic shows a pair of scales with the left scale weighed down. The balance beam, tilted to the left, along with the central vertical stand, appears like a giant ‘T’ (as the first letter of ‘transgender’). A circle placed right at the centre of the balance beam just above the central stand can be visualized as a human face and makes the entire pair of scales look like a person with their arms stretched out, with one side weighed down. Just above the left scale is a thought cloud with text that says “Human Rights Violations”; a similar thought cloud below the right scale says “Court Verdicts, Boards, Bills . . .” The sense conveyed is that human rights violations are weighing down transgender people’s lives despite progressive court verdicts, legislations and welfare bodies for transgender communities in India. The pair of scales is shown inside a frame that implies confinement or lack of freedom. The entire graphic consisting of the scales, thought clouds and frame is itself placed inside another cloud shaped figure. The graphic colour scheme – a mix of deep blue for the scales, black for the text, and light and deep shades of grey interspersed with white for the other elements and the background – conveys a negative mood but not complete doom. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall (graphic based on Clip Art by Microsoft Office).

Happenings Nov '17

Voicing out stasis in transgender lives

By Pawan Dhall

A trans* community hearing organized last week in Kolkata captured numerous grievances and complaints of government inaction across West Bengal. Pawan Dhall reports

The photograph shows a panel discussion in progress at the launch of a set of five standards to support corporate bodies in preventing discrimination against queer people in the workplace and beyond. The standards have been developed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The event took place at the Godrej global headquarters in Mumbai on October 12, 2017. The document on the standards was titled ‘Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, & Intersex People: Standards of Conduct for Business’, and was launched by Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The panel discussion preceded the launch and featured Radhika Piramal, Managing Director, VIP Industries Limited; Nandita Das, Actor and Filmmaker; Gauri Sawant, Transgender Activist; Meenakshi Ganguly, Director South Asia, Human Rights Watch; and Keshav Suri, Executive Director, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. The panel was moderated by Salil Tripathi, Senior Adviser, Global Issues, Institute for Human Rights and Business, London. Photo courtesy: Communication Design Team, GCPL

Happenings Oct '17

Queer inclusion: Business not as usual

By Pawan Dhall

The business world in India has an opportunity to adopt a benchmark to prevent discrimination against queer people in the workplace and beyond. Pawan Dhall reports on the launch of...

This main photograph shows an event organized by the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) just outside the South City Mall in Kolkata on Rakshan Bandhan day this year (August 7, 2017). On a table several friendship bands made of colourful beads and some 'rakhis' are on display. To the left of the table is a disabled child seated on a wheel chair. An IICP volunteer is next to him, and helps him tie a 'rakhi' to a man (presumably a transport worker) standing to the right of the table. All three individuals are smiling. In the background more children with disabilities can be seen seated on wheel chairs, some with their guardians or companions. Other people can also be seen in the background, as also the pavement railings outside the mall, Kolkata Traffic Police signboards, some hoardings, a white car and a few buildings in the distance. Photo credit: Jeeja Ghosh Nag

Happenings Aug '17

‘Rakhi’ for a bus ride, when the law comes untied

By Shampa Sengupta

Shampa Sengupta on the 'rakhi' as a means of sensitizing public transport workers to the concerns of persons with disabilities in Kolkata

Tagged Under: Happenings

Coronavirus outreach news from ‘Varta’

CPI(M)’s disability outreach through print, sound, sign language sets precedent

Trans participation in Manipur for Lok Sabha polls – some hits, many misses

Diversity Dialogues, Orinam raise bar for trans inclusion in workplaces

Cruel déjà vu on transgender rights legislation

Rainbow pride debut wins hearts in Shillong, trumps rain and public hostility

Queer communities celebrate Supreme Court verdict on Section 377

Symposium on queering mental health

Transgender assertion and joy through Thabal Chongba in Manipur

Wrong arm of the law!

Campaign for right to travel by railways

In rage, and in hope, we fight

‘Transgender Day of Rage’ to mark Kolkata pride

Voicing out stasis in transgender lives

Queer inclusion: Business not as usual

‘Rakhi’ for a bus ride, when the law comes untied

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